CANADA CAPTURES EIGHT NATIONS CUP

PIESTANY, Slovakia – Chalk up another title for Canadian hockey.

Canada’s under-18 team has won the Eight Nations hockey tourney for the sixth straight time.

Mike Richards of the Kitchener Rangers had a hat trick as Canada hammered the Czech Republic 5-1 in today’s final.

Oshawa Generals forward Nathan Horton and Corey Perry of the London Knights also scored for Canada while Medicine Hat’s Kevin Nastiuk made 31 saves for the victory.

Canada was perfect in the tournament, going 3-0 in the round robin before beating Russia then the Czech Republic in the playoffs.

Canada also swept the tournament’s player awards — Nastiuk was named top goalie, Shawn Belle of the Tri-City Americans was picked as best defenceman and Winnipeg native Nigel Dawes of the Kootenay Ice was chosen top forward. Dawes and Belle were among ten Western Hockey Leaguers on this year’s club.